January 2001
on LocalVibe.com
Perhaps I
was a bit too young to understand the subtleties about convening in the
streets way back in 1986. Perhaps I was naive and ignorant about a whole
host of issues, not the least of which was the injustice of the Marcos
regime. See I've never been very political, despite going to a college
where protest gatherings were more frequent than official classes. It's been
a self-induced blindness. I was there
at the November 4 prayer rally where Cory and Cardinal Sin urged Erap
in no uncertain terms to give up the life of sin and step down for the
good of the country. But soon after, my interest withered despite the
Impeachment Trial finally starting. Not having a television at my apartment
further put a distance between me and what would become everybody's favorite
soap opera. It was only when news of the refusal to open the Second Envelope
reached me (through, of all things, an acquaintance's celphone) that I
suddenly HAD to barge into a friend's apartment and watch the trial with
my own eyes. Even with the TV on in our office kitchen every afternoon,
there was much that I didn't know. Poor, miserable, sorry bastard that
I am. What I saw
moved me as I'm sure it did a few hundred thousand others who started
burning pyres along EDSA and started convening at the EDSA shrine. The
tears of Loren, the resignation of Nene, the 11 treacherous senators.
So many images burned into memory by news stations putting them on endless
loops.
TAKING IT TO THE STREETS
There was so much proof present that we'd voted into office a sorry, misbegotten excuse for a president. One stupid enough to leave a paper trail of his loot. Checks were talked about with more zeros in them than I'd ever see in my life.
I was so mad, I actually took to the streets in search of an outlet for my frustration, despite joining the game a bit later than many others.
The beauty of it was: I wasn't the only one frustrated.
EDSA was one big street party-- a fiesta with a conscience. People herded into the small area that could view the EDSA Shrine stage with a determination bordering on the uncanny. People lined the flyovers. People went home exhausted but were immediately replaced by another throng of freshly-washed faces. People flocked to the area using the MRT. Bus drivers passing the flyovers were asked to first disembark and shout "Erap resign!" before being allowed passage by the crowds. There was free food passed around: pandesal, ensaymada with sugar crusted over dry bread-- our own version of the multiplication of loaves. A strange woman lay on the street with a bunch of candles around her and various cardboard signs proclaiming the death of Oreta.
Witty, biting
placards with photoshopped senators in lewd poses. And the slogans! What
creativity!
"Erap, Promil user but still no Progress!" "Sisa, di ka
nag-iisa! Si Miriam, bu-ang na!" "11 na senador, inonse ang
bayan."
The miracle is that it worked. Again.
Once the tide turned and it suddenly became an "in" thing among those in power to show support for the winning opposition, the game was over. And a whole new set of balimbings now jockey for position in GMA's government.
I'm glad that Erap's gone. But I'm not too sure I like Gloria either.
I never liked politics because things will never be as simple as when I campaigned to be class president in grade 5. (Incidentally, I lost.) And I'm not too sure I want to understand all the dirty deals it takes to be in a place of power.
I'm naive. I am ignorant. I shouted slogans in EDSA hoping to be heard. But truth be told, I had no solution in mind. I just wanted the bastard out of Malacanang.
Maybe that's
why the Philippines is always in such deep shit.
Because there are a few hundred thousand more people like me who don't
have much to contribute to the future but who are always eager to complain
when those who do start smelling fishy.
Pilipinas,
bayan ko .
Puno ka ng taong nagpabihag sa mundo.